243.
OMEGA – A very rare, massive and attractive yellow gold pilot’s chronograph wristwatch with dual time zone and bracelet
Manufacturer
Omega
Year
1972
Reference No.
BA345.801, 145.013
Movement No.
31’631’027
Model Name
Flightmaster De Luxe
Material
18k yellow gold
Calibre
Manual, cal. 910, 17 jewels
Bracelet/Strap
18k yellow gold, max length 200mm.
Clasp/Buckle
Folding deployant clasp
Dimensions
43mm. wide & 51mm. overall length
Signed
Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed Case back further stamped with Swiss brevet N° 487’449
Estimate CHF 15,000-30,000 $15,300-30,700 €13,700-27,400 Accessories Fitted with red Omega World Service Organization presentation box, punched blank guarantee, Omega certificate and a set of 7 additional hands
Omega’s celebrated “Speedmaster”, launched in 1969, is unquestionably one of the firm’s most popular models ever made. It is however much less known that in the same year, another iconic watch was born: the “Flightmaster”, a manually wound dual time chronograph, designed as the ultimate pilot’s watch of the time. According to several sources close to Omega, the majority
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made were in stainless steel but 200 examples were produced in 18k gold and only 20 of those, such as this example were fitted with 18k gold bracelets. The first example of the “De Luxe” series with gold bracelet, weighing an impressive 220 grams, was sold to King Hussein of Jordan. The present “Flight Master” is a particularly interesting example, as it is not only in excellent condition, but also features two elements that, to the best of our knowledge, have not yet been seen as such at an auction; on one hand the yellow hands which we understand were supplied on Flight Masters used by pilots. The yellow cadmium coated hands were particularly well legible in aircraft cockpits lit with infra-red lights. Another custom feature on the present watch is an over proportioned O-ring, making sure that the crystal would not pop out even in situations of sudden decompression in the cockpit.
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